Navigating the Next Era in New Zealand Politics with GRC Partners

In May, Interel Global Partnership's Australian Partner GRACosway established local partner firm GRC Partners in New Zealand. GRC Partners provides strategic public policy, regulatory, issues management and government relations services across all industry sectors to New Zealand and international clients.

New Zealand politics has drawn international interest over the past year, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern using her newfound recognition and popularity to sweep the small Pacific nation onto the global stage. Ardern’s elevation to Leader of the Labour Opposition just seven weeks prior to the September 2017 election saw her party attract a significant swing and brought about major changes to the composition of the New Zealand Parliament.

With two parties losing their parliamentary representation and incumbent Prime Minister Bill English unable to re-form a coalition government, New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters spent almost a month negotiating a coalition government with Ardern’s Labour Party. The government also enjoys confidence and supply from the Green Party. The Labour ministry and caucus is comprised of both new and familiar faces, while the New Zealand First Party holds four ministerial posts and the Green Party three.

With these interesting dynamics at play, the New Zealand political landscape is ripe with opportunities for business and industry. It is a critical time for businesses to not only develop an understanding of the new government’s agenda, but engage in meaningful discussion to ensure their agenda is equally understood. As a specialist New Zealand public affairs and strategic corporate communications consulting firm, GRC Partners works with businesses to start and progress these critical conversations. GRC Partners helps clients to advance their objectives by engaging effectively with the public policymaking process, government, news media and other stakeholders.

GRC Partners is the sister company of GRACosway, Australia’s leading public affairs and corporate & financial communications counsel. Based in Auckland, GRC Partners is led by Managing Partner Mark Watts.